lindner



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shea 1.

F. LINDNER.

MEAT CUTTING MACHINE.

No. 270,319. Patented Jan. 9,1883.

N, PEIERS phuwuow n lw. Washmgtcn, D. c.

(N0 M'odel.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. LINDNER.

' MEAT CUTTING MACHINE. No. 270,319,, Patented Jan. 9,1883.

X J F" I 113i 152a egg e31 1222112921502" 5 R E N D N I L P MEAT GUTTING MACHINE.

Patented Jan. "9,1883.

Fig.4.

jznveniofr:

N FETUIS. Plwm-ulno n he'r. Wuhingion I), c,

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4'.

P. LINDNER.

MEAT GUTTINGMAGHIN-E.

No. 270,319. Patented Jan. 9,1883.

N, PETERS. FholoLithogfi-lphur. Wuhinglon. n. c,

5 Shets--Sheet 5;.

(No Model.)

P. L'INDNER.

MEAT GUTT-ING MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 9, 1883.

wi 1s h.

J90 v0.7) for:

N. PETERS, Pholo-Lilhngraphav. Washington, a. c.

UN TED STATES PATENT Finch.

FERDINAND LINDNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, EDWARD MELGHIOB,-JULIUS CLEMENS, AND CHARLES FINKENSIEPER,

ALL OF SAMEPLAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,319, dated January 9, 1883,

7 Application filed May 26, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FERDINAND LINDNER, residing at Ohio-ago, in the county of Cook and SlateotIllinois, audacitizen ot'the United States, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cutting Meats, 850., of which the following is a full description, ret'e rence being bad tothe accompanying drawings,

in which- 1o Figure l is a side elevation; Fig. 2, an end elevation; Fig. 3, a-detail, showing the crank shaft and the devices connected therewitht'or raising the frame and knives and holding the frame when down Fig.4, a detail in elevation of'the cutting-table and the devices for holding the knives down to their work, and show-v ing a portion of the frame-work and the supporthug-platform in section; Fig. 5, a detail in elevation of the devices for elevating the frame and knives, showing also the framework, supporting-platform, and crank-shaftin section; Fig. 6, a top or plan view; Fig. 7, a detail in section, showing the frame-work for supporting the knives with the cross-head car- 2 rying the knives and the knives in elevation, showing also the grate for holding the material down; Fig. 8, a detail of the side pieces in which the knife-head rides and is supported; Figs. 9 and 10, details, being respectively a 0 side and edge view of one of the knives. Fig. 1L is a central vertical section endwise of the Ina-rhino, showing the knives advanced and in position to commence the cutting, and the actuating devices in a corresponding position. 5 This invention relates to machines primarily designed to be used in cutting sausage-meat; but it can be used for cutting other material and for other purposes, and has for its objects to producea perfect and clean cut, by which 0 the meat or other material will be minced or out line without being jammed or mashed in the process of cutting, and have the cutting performed through the entire mass ot'material, leavingno uncut or jammed portion at the bot- 5 tom; and to construct a machine by which the above results will be attained in a thorough and efficient manner, as hereinafter more specifically described. These objects I accomplish by the mechanism illustrated in the drawings,

and which I will now proceed to describe in de tail.

In the drawings, A represents the cornerposts or uprights, of wood or any suitable material; B, bottom rails, extending from post to post on the endsof the frame; 0, side rails, 5 extending from post to post; 0, end. rails, extending from post to post; D, cross bars supported at the end on the end rail, 0, and running parallel to the side rails, O; E, top side rails,extendiugfrom postto post. Theseparts, A, B, (3,0, D, and E, form the supportingt'ramework for the cutting-table and the actuating devices by which the knives and their frame are operated, and such frame-work may be of the form of construction and arrangement shown, or other form of construction and arrangement suitable to receive and support a cutting-table and the devices for operating the knives and their frame; and, as shown, the cross-bars D are supported at their centers by brace-bars A, running up diagonally from the end pieces, B, for the purpose of giving additional support at the point where the operatingshaft is located.

F isaplat'orm located on top ot'and secured 7 to the upper side pieces, E; F, headers or blocks located on the platform F at the center and near each end, and secured thereto inany suitable manner; Gr, cutting-table, of a round or circular form, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and

6, the diameter of which can be varied to suit the capacity ofthe machine and thelength ot'the knives and stroke used. This table G is pivotally supported at its center upon a platform, F,

so as to turn or revolve, and is supported at its outer edge or periphery by anti-friction rollers or wheels at, which travel on the upper face of the platform F, the rollers, as shown, being attached to the table or bed; but, if desired, they might be attached to the face of the platform, and the table travel on them.

H. isa metal rim, encircling the lower portion of the periphery of the table G, and extending below the bottom of such table, and provided on its edge withnotches or teeth b, with which 5 a pawhc, engages. This pawl c is pivoted to the upper end of an arm or lever, c, which lever is pivoted by a suitable pin or pivot, c, to

the side bar or piece, E, and its lower end has connected therewith one end of a spring, (I, the other end of which spring is fastened by a screw or pin to one of the bars D, as shown in Fig. 1. The pawl c is held in engagement by a spring. d, attached to the edge of the arm or lever 0, and arranged to have its free end bear or push against the pawl, so as to hold it in engagement and at the same time allowit to to slide over the teeth for a new engagement. The at m or lever c is swung or turned on its pivot c bya pin, a, which is screw-threaded, the screw-threaded end entering a hub, 12, or ring on the end of the crank-shaft, so that by i the revolution of the shaftthe end of the pin will be brought in contact with the edge of the lever and throwits upper end forward to cause the pawl to advance the table G, and the distance advanced is regulated by adjusting the screw 6, so as to make it longer or shorter,

and cause the pawl c to pass a greater or less number of teeth at each engagement. Other means than the pin could be used for operating the lever c. The spring d returns the le ver 0 after each advance to its normal position, ready for the next advance, and instead of using a spring, 01, arranged as shown, other forms of spring, arranged ditt'erentl y, could be used for the purpose of returning the lever. H is a metal rim encircling the upper portion of the periphery of the table, and projecting above the top of the same, and forming a guard or stop to prevent the meat from being drawn oh the bed. As shown in Fig. 4., the metal bands H Hare made separate; butthey could be made in one piece, as shown in Fig. 1, equally as well.

v I is a grate or pressure frame, formed ot'rods 'or bars a, supported at each end on cross 40 heads or bars a. This grate is somewhat longer than the diameter of the table G, and

K are side pieces, joined at their ends by cross-pieces K, and supported on the upper ends of standards or posts K, secured to the end pieces of the main frame, which posts or standards are longer than. the posts or standards of the main frame, so as to support the frame K K at the proper distance above the table or bed G. The side pieces, K, of this secondary frame are provided with suitable slots to receive the guidesf of the side bars, J,

so as to allow such bars to have a free vertical movement.

L are cross-heads-one at each end of the machineand supportedin the side bars,J, by

rollers g on each end ot'each cross'head, which heads carrying the cutting-knives.

rollers enter the respective sections of the grooves g in the side bars or pieces, J, as shown in Fig. 7. .Eaeh cross-head supports or carries a series of. knives, h, four, as shown in Fig. 7, but a greater or lesser number could be used, according to the capacity which it is desired the machine should have. Each knife is composed of a blade and a heel or shank, h, having an opening therein, by means ofwhich and a suitable pin each knife is rigidly attached to a separate fork or slotted head, i, rigidly fixed to a stem, 2', which passes up through the head L, and is screw-threaded at its upper end to receive a nut, by means of So which the knife can be adjusted higher or lower in relation to the bed or table G,and.asshown, each knife is made yielding by a spring,'z', located around the shank or stem of the head 5, between such head and the under face of the cross-head L, as shown in Fig. 7. While the knives can slightly yield, owing to the springs i, their connection with the cross-heads is sufficiently rigid to compel them to follow the movements of the cross-heads as they travel in the grooves g, the edges of which grooves,- through the cross-heads, act to keep the knives down to proper working position relative to the table. As shown, the several stems of the slotted heads for the knives are held in posi- 5 tion by a metal plate, L, attached to the face or edge of the cross-head L, by removing which the stems can be readily removed for the purpose of sharpening or repairing the knives; but this plaleL could be omitted and the stems passed through the cross-head L and removed therefrom by unloosening the nuts. These knives hare located and arranged to pass between the openings of the cross-bars n, the knives at each end occupying alternate openings, so that they do not coincide, but can pass each other in operation.

M are connecting bars or links, attached at their inner ends to the cross-head L by suitable pins or pivots, and at their outer ends pivotally connected with a crosshead, N. Two cross-heads, N N, with connecting bars or links M, are providedone at each end of the machinefor operating the respective cross- IIO N are guide rails or bars, between which the s cross-heads N are located and by whichthey are kept in. a direct line of travel. These bars N extend out from the upperendsot' the standards or supports K the distance required for the travel of the cross-heads N on each end of the machine.

0 are levers or arms-one on each end of the machine--thc upper end of each lever being connected to the cross-head N on its end of the machine. These levers at the lower ends are pivoted in the ends of a cross bar or piece, 0, secured to the end pieces, B, of the frame, so that their upper ends are free to swing in and out and produce asliding movement of the cross-heads N, respectively, and through such cross-heads and theconnectinglinks M advance and reoede the cross-heads L, respectively, with theirknives or cutters h.

P are connecting-links or pitmenone for each lever or arm 0. The outer end of each connecting'link or pitman P is pivotally connected with its arm or lever, and their inner. ends are each connected to acrank by journals or otherwise. Q are the cranks-one for each pitman or connecting-link P.

R is a shaft havingthe cranks Q, formed therewith or attached thereto. This shaft is supported in suitable boxes or hearings attached to the cross-pieces D, as shown, and one end extends beyond thecross-bars D, and has attached thereto the hub or ring 6, which carries the pin 0, by which the arm or lever c is operated. The cranks Q are to be of sufiicient length to give the required throw to the upper end of each arm or lever O to operate the cutting-[wives or cutters.

S is a gearwheel suitably attached to the shaft R; T, a gear-wheel meshing with the wheel S; U, a shaft supported in suitable bearingsin the side pieces, 0, of the frame, and on which is the gear-wheel 1; V, a crank attached to one end of the shaft U, for revolving the shaft and communicating motion to the gears T S, and from such gears to the crankshaft 1%; W, the fly-wheel on the opposite end of the shaft U frotn the crank V.

The shaft R on the outside of each crank fi W is provided with a cannj, the outer acting face or edge of which is curved and engages with the upper face of an arm or lever, k, pivoted by a pin or bolt, to the inner face of the cross-piece D, the outer end of which arm or lever is pivoted to the lower end of a head or block, 1. A block, 1, arm or lever 70, and cam for engaging the inner end of the arm or lever is provided for each endof the machine, as shown in Fig. 5. The upper end ofeach block 1 has attached thereto on each side a rod or bar, 912, which extends up and passes through the platform F and headers F, and are connected at their upper ends to the cross-bars a of the grate or pressure frame, the ends ofihe rods passing through the ends of the crossheads and being held in position by suitable nuts. The cross-heads n at each end of the grate or pressure frame are attached to the side bars, J, by straps or bars 0, the upper ends of. which are secured to the side bars, J, and the lower ends attached to the cross-heads by the end of the rods or harsm, which pass through them, so that the side bars or frame for the knives. and the grate or pressure frame are connected so as to move together, and are both moved by the same devices, consisting of the heads or blocks l, levers or arms It, and camsj.

On each cross'bar D is supported a bar, 19, by brackets or standards 8, aitached to the upper face of the bar D. Each bar 29 is attached to its brackets or supports 8 by a screw or bolt,

t, the stem or shank of which passes through its center the shaft R, and they are so located as to come outside of tlle cams j, and are arranged to have theirendsengage with aroller, 4, located on eacli head or blockl, on the opposite side to that on which the 'a rnns or levers'lc are pivoted. The roller on one of the blocks l is located in a higher plane than the rol'er on the other block, and the end of the bar 1;, which is to engage the roller fl, which is located in the lowest plane, is proviil d with a notch or recess, p, and an extension p'flthe end of which, when the knife-frame is down, is in line with the upper edge of the roller. This slot or .opening 19 is necessary in order to allow a vertical play of the knifeframe, and the bars p are for the purpose of engaging the rollers r and locking or holding the frame down for the knives or cutters to do their work, the ends of each bar passing over its roller r to do the locking. These bars 19 have a reciprocating movement to cause them to engage the rollers r or be disengaged therefrom, and this movement of the bars, as shown, is produced by cams lt-0Ile for each bar-located on the shaft R,the end face,u,of which engages with the projection or face 12', formed in the elongated slot r, encircling the shaft It, which engagement of the faces a '0 reciprocates the bar, so as to disengage the ends from the rollers", and this facea, asthe shaftR revolves, engages the proj ction or face '22, also formed in the slot '0 on the opposite side to the end or face 12, and advances the bar, pro jecting the ends thereof over the rollers r. The receding movement of the bar occursjust before the knife-frame is raised, and the advance movement occurs just after the knifeframe has descended into position for use.

The knile-i'rarne is raised by the action of the camsj, the levers Ir, heads or blocks 1, and connertingrods m 0, as before described, and it is lowered or dropped by the weight of the frame when the camsj are released from their engagement with the arms or levers Ir.

The operation is as follows The meat or other material to be cut is placed on the bed or table G, and movement is imparted to the crank-shaft B through the crank V, shaft U, and gear-T S. The rotation of the shaft 1% causes its cranks Q to give a reciprocating movement to the connecting links or pitmen P on each side; and these pitnien oscillate the arms or levers U, the outer movement of each pitman carrying the upper end of each arm or lever outward, and'theinner movement of the rod or pitman carrying the upper end of these levers inward, and this outward and inwai d movement of the levers 0, through the head N and connecting links or bars N, reciprocates the cross-heads L, by which the series of knives aiecarried. This reciprocating movement is simultaneous with both cross heads, Lthat is, as one advances the other advances, and as one recedes the other recedes. When the cross-heads L are making each end of the bar. Each bar 12 encircles at their advance movement the cam j isengaged ICO terial on the bed or table.

with the arms or levers is, raising the bars J to knives will cause them to drop by gravity,

bringing the bars not' the grate over the material on the bed or table, and holding such niaterial down for the action of the'knives, and

the frame and knives are held down by the [5 bars 1), the ends of which are advanced, and

operate to engage the rollers r by the engagement of the face a with the face a, which engagement occurs as the frames and knives reach their lowest point of descent. When the frame has descended the cross-heads L are recause the knives, which are carried thereby, to

be drawn across the material on the bed or table G, cutting such material with a drawcut, and in order to permit of the necessary movement of the knives in the advancing 0 and receding movements, the slots 9 for the rollers g are given the upward curve shown, which curve causes the forward end of the knife to be thrown slightly downward, so as to enter and pass entirely through the ma- When the receding movement of the cross-head is finished, the face a of the cam to strikes the face 11 and disengages the end of the bar 19 from the rollers 'r, leaving the knife-frame free to be elevated,

40 and at the same time the cams j engage the arms or levers la and commence to elevate the knife-frame, the inward movement ofthe crosshead Lalso commencing to again advance the knite, when the same operation is repeated.

At each advance of the kmves the table or bed of the prect ding cut.

The operation is to be continued until the meat or material is reduced to the required fineness, when it can be removed from the table or bed, and a new supply to be placedthereon and cut in the same 'manner.

The machine can be operated by either hand or other power, as may be most convenient,

through the crank V or other means.

As shown, a series of knives or cutters is fio'provided for each end of the machine, with actuating devices for each, but such knives or cut ters could be arranged to work from one end only, in which event the cutting would not be as rapid as by having the knives or cutters work trom both ends.

I do not confine myself to the special means herein described and shown for confining the material while being out. The pressure grate or frame 1 effects this in an efficient and simple manner, and the uprightencircling rim H serves to prevent the material from being drawn from the table while being acted on by the knives. When two sets ofknives reciprocate in opposite directions, as hereinbefore described, their opposing action,when advancing toward each other, will be sufficient to confine the material while being cut; but when a single set of knives is used it is desirable to provide some suitable means to act on'the material to confine or hold it while being cut. The grate or pressure frame efficiently accomplishes this end, and it can be used with one or both sets of the knives.

As shown, two cams,j, and levers k, are provided for raising the knife-frame and knives; but a single cam andasingle lever to each head or block could be used, and,asshown, twosliding bars. 12, for locking the frame and knives down, are used, butasingle one could be provided, and these devices for raising the frame and knives and locking it down could be of some other form of construction and arrangement than that shown, as, for-instance, an eccentric located on the crank-shaft, with a connectingrod or pittnan running to the frame, could be used.

Instead of using a number of bars, M, to make the connection between the cross-heads L and N, a single bar could be used, having sufficient width to resist the pressure and produce a straight line of travel. As shown, a spring, to, attached to the cross-beam D, and having its free end engaging with a pin, w, on

ICO

the sliding bar 19, is provided for each bar for the purpose of returning the bars quickly, in order to clear the rollers from engagement; but the spring w is not necessary, and can be dispensed with,if so desired. In the construction of frame-work shown, the cross-bars D, in line with the rollers 1", are provided with a recess, q, to enable the block lto descend the required distance to draw the frame and knives down to working position; but by setting the crossbars wider apart or'sctting the blocks farther the material to be cut, a series of inclined knivesfor producing a draw-cut, mechanism for reciprocating the knives and automatically raising and lowering them at determined. in-

tervals during their reciprocations, and means whereby the material is confined while being cut, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a table for receiving the material to be out, of a frame carrying inclined knives, mechanism for reciprocating the knives and automatically raising and low eringthe knife-carrying frame atdetermiued intervals during thereciprocatiousof the knives, and means whereby the material is confined while being cut, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a table for receiving the material to be cut, means for rotating the table, a series of inclined knives, mechanism for reciprocating the knives and automatically raising and lowering them at determined intervals during their reeiprocations, and means whereby the material is confined while being cut, substantially as described.

5. A machine for minciugmeat and other material, combining in its structure a table for carrying the material, a series ofinclined knives alternating with each other and some adapted to pass between the others in their movements, and means for reciprocating the knives toward and fromthe center of the table, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a table for receiving the. material to be cut, a series of inclined knives alternating with each other and some adapted to pass between the others in their movements, and mechanism for reciprocating the knives and automatically raising and lowering them during their reciprocations, substantially as described. 1

7. The combination of a table for receiving the material to be out, two cross-heads, each carrying a series of inclined knives, and means for reciprocating the cross-heads in opposite directions, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a table for receiving the material to be out, two cross-heads, each carrying a series of inclined knives, those on one cross-head alternating withthose on the other, and mechanism for reciprocating and raising and lowering the cross-heads, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a table for receiving the material to be out, the grate or pressuret'ramelocated above the table, the framelocated above the grate or pressure-frame, the crossheads supported by the frame, which is above the grateorpressure-frame,aud carrying knives which are provided with inclined cutting-edges to produce a draw-cut, and mechanism for re:

eiproeating the cross-heads on their supporting-frame, substantially as described.

10. A bed or table carrying the material to tica-l sliding l'rame, J, in combination with cross-i headsL,carryingthe knivesorcutters,linksM,

cross-heads N, guides N, arms or levers 0, bars or pitmen P, cranks Q, and revolving shaft R, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. A slidingbar p,in combination with the rollers 1", heads or blocks l, rods in, cross-bars n, straps 0. frames J, cross-heads L, carryingthe knives, and means for reciprocating the cross-heads, substantially as and for purpose described.

13. Theeombination of the supporting-frames J, the cross-heads L, carried by the said frames, the inclined cutting-knives connected at one end with the cross-heads by a yielding connection, and mechanism .for reciprocating the cross-heads, substantially as described.

14. The combination ofthe grate or pressureframe I, the cross-heads L, the frame J, supporting the latter, and mechanism for reciprocating the cross-heads and automatically raising and lowering the grate or pressure-frame, substantially as described.

15. The bars 10 and cam it, having an end face, u, to engage the faces 1; 'v on the bars, in combination with the rollers 1", heads or blocks 1, rods m, straps 0, and frame or bars J, carrying the knives, for holding the knives down to their work and releasing the frame at the completion of the cutting, substantially as specified. y

16. The sliding barsp and arms or levers k, in combination with a sliding frame or support, carrying the knives and cutters, and in termediate devices counectin g the frame with the sliding bars -and-the said arms or levers K for locking the lrame down during the cutting operation and raising the frame for the next succeeding cutting, substantially as specified.

FERDINAND LINDNER.

Witnesses ALBERT H. ADAMS, O. W. BOND.

the 

